10 years ago, Rory's father made a 500-to-1 bet that Rory would win #TheOpen before age 26:

HOYLAKE, England (AP) -- Rory McIlroy might not be the only winner at the Open Championship on Sunday. The BBC has confirmed reports that McIlroy's father, Gerry, and three of Gerry's friends placed a combined bet of 400 pounds (now $680) in 2004 on McIlroy winning the British Open before he turned 26. McIlroy was 15 at the time and is now 25. The odds were 500-1, so the syndicate stands to win 200,000 pounds ($340,000) if McIlroy lifts the claret jug. He has a six-shot lead heading into the final round. BBC reporter Andrew Cotter, who is covering the tournament at Royal Liverpool this week, spoke to McIlroy after his third round on Saturday and says on Twitter "I asked the man himself. This year still counts."